Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1887-04-08
Thrown From the Clouds,

From Demorest for APRIL
One clear afternoon in the autumn
| Of 1874, a monster balloon could be
seen tugging wildly at its anchor
ropes just without the city of Chester
The enormous mass of inflated silk
looked like some huge bird OF prey as il
ftfuily obeyed every puff of wind, and
seemed to nod a stubborn acquies
to the will of its owner. The open
space of country was crowded with
| people, who had journeyed many
miles from the surrounding villages
to witness the ascension OF the hot
air balloons sight which they had
never seen, and, probably, would
never have have an opportunity Of
seeing again. The aeronaut, known
by the name of Bill Mitchell, stood
surveying the creation of his own
hand is Just pride as it fl Dated above
the heads of the dense throng, and
each shout of admiration sent thrill
of pleasure through his breast. He
had nicknamed his aerial cal
"Mollie," a name indellibly impress.
ed upon his memory of past bitter as.
sociatious. 1t was generally whis-
pered about that in his early life be
had loved young and beautiful girl,
whose affection for him was only
euualed by her purity and geDtleness.
The two were engaged to be married;
but before their hopes could be con-
summated the cruel grave claimed the
fair haired girl for its own, and Bill
Mitchell was left alone, broken
hearted, griefstricken man. He
sought relief from his sorrow in va
rious ways, and finally took up the
field of science as a penacea for his
misery. lie was a man capable of
strong passions, and, when he devot-
ed his attention to his speciality, he
entered into it with his whole heart
and soon reaped the just reward of
his labors. He became noted as a
scientist and a scholar, and when he
travelled he found himself the centre
of attraction.
But this hattery was not the object
after which be was aiming; it was
rather CALLING and disgusting to him,
for, having imbibed freely some of the
cynic views of the old sages in his
line of thought, he was inclined to look
upon the world and its inhabitants
through the discolored glass Of the
misanthrope. lie loved his books
and the memory of the departed one
whose affections be had once; but moth
more.
A strange theory regarding the at
mosphere surrounding the earth had
been gradually forming itself in his
mind for years past, and so effectual-
ly had he convinced himself that he
had the key to great discovery in
his grasp, that be ignored everything
else but his pet hobby. Night and
day he toiled over his table in his lab
oratory, drawing, thinking, expert
menting, doubling, and rejoicing
Tie theory of the past night was
swept away by the theory of the
morning; the drawings and sketchings
of year were mercilessly consigned to
the fire, and new set laboriously de-
signed With the patience of a phi
losopher he toiled at his bench, striv-
ing to perfect his scheme. Men
whispered about that he was work
ing upon some great discovery that
would revolutionize the existing Or
der of things, and make the theories
of the past, regarding the earth s
structure and its surroundings, ap-
pear absurd and ridiculous. But the
nature of the discovery none knew.
The scientest was careful to avoid all
conversation about his pet scheme,
and few were brave enough to pry
into his laboratory,
But at the expiration of five years,
Bill Mitchell announced to his towns
people one day, through the local pa
per, that his plans were nearly con.
summated, and that on a certain day
he would make the great experiment
of his life. He had constructed bal
loon of large dimensions, which was
capable of carrying several men
through the air with ease. In this
aerial car lie had securely fastened a
set of curious instruments, polished
brightly, and bearing the familiar
lame of Mollie upon them. These
instruments were the work of five
years, and they were to record for the
scientist the necessary facts and OBJ
servations for the perfection of bis
great discovery. So fine and delicate
were the mechanisms of the carefully
coDst ucted recorders that the slight
breath would affect them, and the pa
per-like W heels would drush around with
astonishing rapidity. A casual glance
would suffice to convince an observ-
ing mind of labor and brain power re-
quired to invent and perfect them.
They were both unique in their de.
sign and make, and entirely unlike
any similar instruments used for tax
ing atmospheric observations. The
inventor alone knew how to use them,
and the object for which they were to
be employed. The balloon was an
ordinary hot-air bag, only Of extraord-
mary size, constructed so for the pur-
pose of carrying the heavy machin-
cry in the small car. 1t was to be
cut loose from its anchorage at an
early hour in the day; and before the
sun was scarcely an hour high,
throngs of people began to assemble
on the open field where the monster
bird was to start off on it's journey.
Bill Mitchell quietly surveyed the
floating bag of silk for a full minute
before he attempted to oAet into the
SIN all car, dragging W lIn q few feet
of the earth. Then, with a smile of
satisfaction on his deeply furrowed
face, he quickly ascended the rope
ladder, and leaped into his narrow
quarters. Everything was carefully
arranged, and all possible emergen.
cies provided for; and the aeronaut
felt confident that his voyage would
be a successful one. At the proper
moment the signal to let go was given,
and the balloon was cut loose from it's
moorinrs